YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP)  To the world's military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasure trove of resources, long-dreamed-of sea lanes and a slew of potential conflicts.

By Arctic standards, the region is already buzzing with military activity, and experts believe that will increase significantly in the years ahead.

Last month, Norway wrapped up one of the largest Arctic maneuvers ever  Exercise Cold Response  with 16,300 troops from 14 countries training on the ice for everything from high intensity warfare to terror threats. Attesting to the harsh conditions, five Norwegian troops were killed when their C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed near the summit of Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain.

The U.S., Canada and Denmark held major exercises two months ago, and in an unprecedented move, the military chiefs of the eight main Arctic powers  Canada, the U.S., Russia, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland  gathered at a Canadian military base last week to specifically discuss regional security issues.

None of this means a shooting war is likely at the North Pole any time soon. But as the number of workers and ships increases in the High North to exploit oil and gas reserves, so will the need for policing, border patrols and  if push comes to shove  military muscle to enforce rival claims.

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"Sir, we're surrounded!" "Good! We can attack in any direction!"
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"Io credo ch'ei credette ch'io credesse." - "I think perhaps he thought that I was thinking."
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"I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not sure."

This is been in the making for at least a decade now. Russia wants claims to go from how far east/west your country borders are up to the north pole because that would make Russia the largest shareholder in the arctic. Everyone else obviously opposes.

Hopefully, the same international laws will apply up there as they do in the rest of the oceans. That is, "ownership" only extends about 12 nautical miles out to sea--all resources beyond that are interational.

Hopefully, the same international laws will apply up there as they do in the rest of the oceans. That is, "ownership" only extends about 12 nautical miles out to sea--all resources beyond that are interational.

You're joking right? Everyone know's the US is already laying the groundwork to claim ALL of it for themselve's.

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You can't fix stupid!
Book's: They're good for you.
Es ist der Sandmann! Wieder einschlafen.
Ignorant by choice, OR just plain fucking dumb?
E' meglio vivere un giorno da leone che cent'anni da pecora.
It's easier to be a genius than an idiot, genius is temporary idiocy is permanent.
I used to think people had something good to say, but then they started talking.

At least they're not as bad as China, who's claiming our islands that are at least 400 miles away from their nearest coastal area, but are not claiming our islands that are actually nearer to the Chinese coast than they are to our capital.

__________________
"Sir, we're surrounded!" "Good! We can attack in any direction!"
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"Io credo ch'ei credette ch'io credesse." - "I think perhaps he thought that I was thinking."
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"I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not sure."

Yeah, Russia has backed off from imperalism. China is growing more and more imperialist and it is very concerning. I don't think China has a dog to fight in the arctic but they're obviously trying in Indonesia.

__________________"I like offending people, because I think people who get offended should be offended." -Linus Torvalds
"Because people in IT thought they would take care of computers, and they realized when they started to work that they have to take care of people." -file-exists-p
"I think, at one point, I said it was fun offending the easily offended" -John Carmack

Mexico went from civilized to lawless. If USA annexed Mexico, think Iraq and Afghanistan 100 times more expensive and 10 times longer. USA would be dragged down the shitter so fast, it'd turn into Russia.